Wednesday, April 23, 2014

U.S. sending troops to Eastern Europe

The U.S. is sending about 600 ground troops to Eastern Europe this
week to “reassure” allies there as Washington resumes its campaign of
pressure on Russia over the Ukraine standoff.

About 150 soldiers from the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
(Airborne), based in Italy, are being sent to each of four countries —
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — in rotational deployments that
the Pentagon says will be sustained until further notice.

The paratroopers will take weapons and ammunition for “infantry
exercises” and be in place by the end of the week, Pentagon Press
Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon. The
roughly company-sized units will remain in place for about a month, and
then new ones will follow them until at least the end of the year.